Our Life is a Story
(Speaks in language)
I just said, "Hi". My Tlingit name is Guy Yaaw'. I'm from the T'akdeintaan Clan, the Raven Freshwater Sockeye Clan from Hoonah, Alaska. I'm the child of Wooshketaan, Eagle Thunderbird Clan (L) in Juneau, Alaska. The original name of Juneau is called (L)—"the place where the flounders gather".
I'm the grandchild of a Thunderbird, (speaks in language). I am Tlingit, Cherokee and Filipino. And not only that, I acknowledged you, your ancestors, your people, your family, our Creator, because without our Creator, our ancestors, our family, we would have nothing.
My original name, my other name is Gene Tagaban. I am a storyteller, a counselor, a trainer, a healer. I've been practicing my craft now for about fifteen years or so. I remember my grandfather when I was growing up telling me that, "Son, you are a story. Life is a story." And I didn't understand that. What was he talking about? "I don't understand, Grandfather."
He said, "You are a story, son. Before you were even born your story was there. Then you got born and then your story started to breathe. Then you started to crawl, your story crawled, Son. Then you started to walk, your story walked. Then you run, your story runs. Your story is alive, Son. You're going to grow up, go to school, graduate, go to college, get a good job, have a family. Son, your life is a story, so tell a good story. Tell a good story.
Our life is a story. What kind of story do you want to tell with your life? So go out there and tell a good story. Share your story with other people. In that way it gives them permission to live a good story.
I thank you very much. I thank you for this time that you've taken to listen to me, your attention and your response.
My name is Gene Tagaban. Guy Yaaw. (speaks in language) Thank you. (speaks in language).
Gene Tagaban/Guy Yaaw': T'akdeintaan Raven fresh water red sockeye clan, Wooshketaan Yadi, Child of an Eagle/Shark. Gene is Tlingit, Cherokee and Filipino. His Tlingit lineage comes from his great grandmother of the Juneau, Alaska area. His mother was full-blooded Cherokee from Oklahoma and his grandfather was Filipino who migrated to Alaska to work in the fisheries and gold mines. He grew up in Juneau, Alaska and is now living in Bellingham, Washington on the Lummi reservation.
Gene is a many faceted individual. He is a trainer, consultant, dancer, teacher, storyteller, actor, plays the flute and drums. He performs with Kuteeya, an Alaskan native dance troupe, Under One Sky Ensemble and is involved with Naakahiti Theater. He created Raven Dreaming Productions that specializes in training, workshops, consultation, motivational speaking, storytelling and performing arts. As an actor he had a role in the movie "The Business of Fancydancing" by Sherman Alexie. Gene has a master certificate in Nero Linguistic Program. He is vice president of Indigenous Studies Foundation and participates in the Native Leadership Program at the University of Fairbanks, Alaska. He has toured the US, New Zealand, Brazil, and Australia telling Native American stories. He likes stories of Raven, the trickster, who was spiritual, magical and mysterious teacher. His stories are also about his own personal journey, his people and his tribe. Topics dealing with the environment, health and healing, tribal government and tribal politics are all incorporated in his stories.
Gene's audiences are very diverse. They're comprised of preschool to the elderly. Presentations are made at universities, small to large organizations, non-Indian organizations, government agencies: Forest Service, Indian Child Welfare and Social Security. He's been fortunate to work and learn with people all over the world: Asia, Europe, South America, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. His teachings include leadership, empowerment, drug and alcohol prevention, violence and abuse prevention and communication in relationships. He believes issues need to be talked about in order to start healing because we can't change what we don't acknowledge. Like the medicine wheel: the whole system; body, mind, spirit.
Gene Tagaban
3746 Cypres Way
Ferndale, WA
cell
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©2004 Wisdom of the Elders